Milking-apron.



G. W. VAHL.

MILKING APRON.

APPLICATION FILED snnxzv, 1910.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

INVENTOR W. \[Q h l BY I ' WITNESSES:

GUS W. VAHL, OF DONNYBROOK, NORTH DAKOTA.

MILKING-APRON.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Application filed September 27, 1910. Serial No. 584,145.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GUS W. VAI-IL, a cit-izen of the United States, residing at Donnybrook, in the county of Ward and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Milking- Aprons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in milking aprons and my object is to provide a device, which is adapted to fit over the udder of the cow to prevent dirt, etc., from falling into the pail,

while the milking operation is being per-- formed.

A further object is to provide suitable openings, through which the teats project.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting the apron, whereby it will fit udders of various sizes.

A further object is to provide an adjustable frame, which fits around the edges of the apron.

A further object is to provide adjustable means for securing the apron in position on the udder.

A further object is to provide a shield, which projects a distance below the apron and having means for attaching the shield around a pail.

A further object is to provide pockets in the apron, whereby various articles may be readily carried.

A further object is to provide suitable openings in the shield, through which the hands may be introduced while milking, and, a further object is to provide suitable cuffs or guards around said openings.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification hereunto annexed.

-In the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved apron applied to use. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the frame, to which the apron is attached, and, Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the apron with the shield removed, showing the strap section 8, connected therewith, flattened out.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate correspondlng parts throughout the several vlews, 1 1ndlcates the apron, which is preferably constructed of any suitable form of material,

such as oil cloth, canvas or the like and 2 indicates the openings therethrough, through which the teats of the animal are adapted to project. Surrounding the edges of the apron l is a frame 3, which is preferably constructed in four sections, each section being substantially angular and one end of each section having a sockett therein, into which the end of the next section projects, a spring 5 being positioned in the socket, so as to direct outward pressure thereon at all times. Extending across the under face of the apron and crossing one another at right angles are straps 6, which engage with buckles 7, each strap 6 having one end secured to one side or section of the frame while the buckle with which the other end of the strap engages is connected to the opposite side or section of said frame. By means of this construction the apron may be adjusted to fit udders of various sizes, it being apparent that the springs in the sockets of the frame will cause the latter to immediately enlarge when the straps are lengthened.

The apron is held in position by means of strap sections 8 and 9, said strap sections having buckles 10 thereon, by means of which they may be adjusted lengthwise, one of the straps also having a section of elastic or other yielding material 11, which will gradually draw the apron toward the udder, as the milk is removed therefrom. The strap 8 is also provided at its free end with a snap hook 12, which is adapted to be engaged with a ring (not shown) in the strap section 9, thereby providing a convenient means for quickly securing the apron in position on the animal.

In conjunction with the apron 1, I provide a shield 13, which is adjustably suspended from the strap sections 8 and 9, by means of auxiliary strap sections 1 1 and 15, which latter strap sections are attached to the upper edge of the shield and on opposite sides thereof, said strap sections preferably having their upper or free ends secured in buckles 8' and 9 carried by the strap .sec tions 8 and 9 respectively. The shield 13 is adapted to extend around a pail 16, the edge of the opening through which the pail extends being drawn together by means of a gathering string or the like 17, so that when the shield is disposed around the pail and the string drawn taut, said shield will be securely held in engagement with the pail, until such time as the string is released. By providing the shield in the manner shown, it will be impossible for the milk to spatter onto the clothes of the person milking and in order to readily grip the teats of the animal, openings 18 are formed through the shield, through which the hands are to be introduced while milking and if desired, cuffs or guards 19 may be placed partially or entirely around said openings. A portion of the shield is out out and a strip of mica 20 or other transparent sub stance placed thereover, so that the person milking may have a clear view of the interior of the pail. If desired, a plurality of pockets 21 may be attached to the outer face of the shield, so that various articles may be conveniently stored therein, such as liniments, scissors, cloth, etc.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a convenient means for preventing dirt, et-c., from getting into the milk and one that can be quickly applied to use. It will further be seen that by providing the shield, the milk will be prevented from splashing upon the garments of the one performing the milking operation and it will likewise be seen that the device can be quickly adjusted to accommodate the same to fit udders of various sizes. It will also be understood that although I have shown and described the apron as surrounded by a frame having adjusting straps thereon, said frame and adjusting straps may be dispensed with,

this form of device being used where it is not necessary to adjust the same to fit udders of different sizes.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with an apron having openings therethrough, of means to attach the apron to an animal and adjustable frame sections for the apron. I

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with an apron having openings therethrough, of an adjustable frame at the edge of said apron, means to attach the apron to an animal and additional means to increase or decrease the size of the apron.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with an apron having openings therethrough and means to adjustably secure the apron to an animal, of a shield depending below said apron and having a pair of openings therein and means to draw the lower edge of the shield in position around an object.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with an apron, of a frame at the edge of the apron, said frame comprising a plurality of sections telescopically connected together, springs adapted to separate said sections to increase the size thereof and means to adjustably hold the frame sections together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUS IV. VAHL. Witnesses:

OSCAR ILsoN, J os. H. JOHNSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

